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TOKENS USED FOR MONEY IN PAST YEARS
Thursday, July 1, 1982

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PIX #1 - Here are just a few of the hundreds of tokens
Joe Emmons has collected from various towns and cities throughout
Ohio. top row left to right: Hazelwood Inn, Hazelwood; Altman's canton;
and J.W. Sperow, Benton Ridge. Second row left to right: The Orient,
Orient; Jerry's Cafe, Fayette; and Star Poolroom, Bluffton; and third
row left to right: Billy Wirth's Place, Elizabethtown; Dell's Restaurant,
Fostoria; and Joe's Cafe, Cincinnati.

Not too many people know about merchant tokens and the
part they played in business at one time in the history of this country.

Your author must admit only a limited knowledge of the
extent of the use of tokens until Ray Dell showed me a letter from
an Ohio collector who advertised in a journal for "collectors" of
various items.

Ray Dell answered the advertisement inasmuch as he discovered
a box of tokens which his father, John, had used during the early
days of his restaurant business.

The letter Ray received was more than a reply about
the collectors' interest in buying old tokens. The writer went on
to say that his grandparents, the Emmonses, had lived in Fostoria
all of their married life and had raised a family here.

When I saw the name Emmons, I immediately recalled my
grandmother mentioning that name when I was a small lad. Apparently,
she had struck up a friendship with Mrs. Emmons and had visited in
her home, which was in the eastern section of Fostoria, where we also
lived.

INTRODUCED FAMILY AND TOKENS

Off went my letter to Joe Emmons at Hillsboro, who had
written to Ray, and back came a reply which not only identified his
ancestry here but introduced me to the merchant trade tokens which
are now part of Americana, having been used from the 1820's to the
1950's.

Consequently this article will provide some local history
as well as information about an interesting hobby that may not be
too well known.

According to Joe Emmons, who had become quite involved
in the collection of tokens, it all started years ago in the more
remote parts of this country where it often was miles from a small
commuity to a bank. Money, especially small change, was scarce. Companies
often issued tokens worth various amounts to their workers, who could
spend them at the company store. That way it was not necessary to
drive many miles by horse and buggy to the closest bank to secure
small denominations of money for change. The practice also eliminates
the necessity to keep large amounts of money on hand which would be
subject to robbery.

TOKENS INSTEAD OF CASH

Merchants also took up the practive of using tokens
in place of small change. Customers accepted the tokens and spent
them as money for future purchases. Tokens were redeemed only by the
store where they were issued. For example, a dollard toward a 30-cent
purchase, he might be given 10-cent tokens in place of small change.

The tokens were pressed from various metals: zinc, pewter,
brass, bronze, aluminum, even rubber, cardboard and plastic. They
were made in various shapes and designs, some having unusual artwork
and lettering, others very plain. Some had openings in the center
so the merchants could place them on a spindle.

Emmons explained that as communties grew and there were
more banks closer to small towns and villages, the merchant tokens
were no longer required and they disappeared from the national scene.
It was then that tokens became collectors' items, the scarce ones
bringing higher dollars. The average token today sells from 50 cents
to $10, depending on scarcity and age.

USED WIDELY IN THIS AREA

Many of the tokens stated specifically what they would
be used for, such as a hair cut, one pint (or quart) of milk, one
loaf of bread, cup of coffee, one cigar and one beer.

The one from Lewis & Alford, Leipsic, issued in 1908
was good for $2 in trade on a buggy, or $20 on a piano.

At one time, John Bowman had given your author a token
used by Charles Pfau Bakery here in Fostoria, and it will now be given
to Emmons for his collection.

ABOUT THE EMMONS FAMILY

Joe Emmons' grandfather was Lorenzo Emmons, born in
Livingston, N.Y. After serving in the Civil War he brought his bride
from southern Illinois to Fostoria where they raised a family of five,
two boys and three girls, one of those five being Joe's father, John
Franklin.

Joe speculates that his grandfather came to Fostoria
through the persuasion of a war buddy. His war service left Lorenzo
in poor physical condition as the result of wounds and the loss of
toes from freezing while on picket duty. He also lost an eye in the
service.

According to Joe, the only place his grandfather worked
in Fostoria was at a lumber yard. Going through city directories,
I discovered that Lorenzo and his family lived at 439 Town St. and
worked at the F.W. Fraver Lumber Co., which was also located on Town
Street, near McDougal.

WAS CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Since Lorenzo was a Civil War veteran, his wife Mary
was probably a member of the GAR Auxiliary. That is probably how she
and my grandmother became acquainted since my grandfather, Nathan
Joseph Babcock was also a Civil War vet, and grandmother was an auxiliary
member.

Lorenzo Emmons died March 9, 1914, and is buried in
Fountain Cemetery.

Although Joe Emmons was not born in Fostoria or ever
lived here, his sister Pearl and husband, Jack Johnston, did. At one
time, Johnston was a railroader here and also had the Flat Iron Restaurant.

Another sister, Mae, and husband, Wayne Price, owned
the Peacock or Paradise Restaurant, also the Hays Hotel and taxi car.
Both sisters, Mae and Pearl, now live in Florida.

Just before turning this article in for publication,
I learned that Joe Emmons is the past two year president of the IKO
(Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio) Token and Medal Society with members throughout
the United States.